Tucson, Ariz., Police Will Collect Data on Immigration Calls

The Tucson PD is designing a database to collect information on the calls it makes to immigration authorities.

Police in Tucson, Ariz., will soon be collecting data on their calls to immigration authorities regarding suspected illegal aliens.

The Tucson Police Department is required under state law to call immigration officials every time they legally stop someone and suspect them of being in the country illegally. Now the forms used to collect that information are being updated and a new repository is being built to help better analyze the data.

The Arizona Daily Starreported that the data-collection move is likely a response to a settlement between South Tucson and the American Civil Liberties Union last month. According to the paper, the Tucson Police Department may incorporate pieces of South Tucson’s immigration call form in its new documents.

No timeline has been set for the database, however. The Star noted that Tucson PD Spokesman Sgt. Chris Widmer attributed the delay to the city’s IT department. But apparently city council members are beginning to get frustrated with the process.

Councilwoman Regina Romero said an update on the project – which was launched in November – was requested in March and city officials still have not received it.